Improvement in guards or fingers for harvesters



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICs AARON WISSLER, OF CLAY TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER COUNTY, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GUARDS OR FINGERS FOR HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part ot' Letters Patent No. 5 M380, (lated December 5. 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON WIssLER, ot' Clay township, in the county ot Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements on Harvesters and Mowing-Machines and I do hereby declare that the following; is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part ot' this specitication, in which- Figure l illustrates the position of the double series ot cutters and fingers or guards, with the double-crank and connecting rods shown on acontinuous bar. Fig. 2 shows the cutters or blades, the upper exactly over the lower series, and their points meeting` directly in the center ofthe upper and lower limb of each alternate finger, the other tin gers being directly in the angle formed by the contact ot' two adjoining blades or cutters. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ot' the cutters, fingers, and tin ger-bar, Ste., in connection with portions ot' a truck, T U, and gearing in part O P for the crank-pulley N, operating the cutter-bars D E by means of the connecting-rods L M, as applied to the ordinary machine. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one ot' the fingers detached 5 Fig. 5, the same in two pieces-a modification ot' Fig. 4. Fig. 6 and Fig. S are vertical sections of both kinds of tingers or guards, Figs. I and 5, in relation to the other bars, &c., employed; Fig. 7, also a modification in part of the same.

The construction of my machine is as follows: I make my cutters four inches wide, which is the base ot' an equilateral triangle, with square sides, or right-angled base and square sides; the depth ofthe cutter-bar and bridle-barF, (or its equivalent,) as shown by Hbetwe'en Fig. and Fig. 2. These blades may be made tive or six inches wide, which will still reduce the motion, as it lengthens the cutting-edge. These may be riveted, or, better, fastened with screws neatly countersunk on the cutter-bars D E, the lower bar requiring 011e (or one anda halt may be used) blade more than the upper. The stroke of the crank, heilig alternate, is but haltl the length ot' the width ofthe cutters employed, whether they be four or six inches wide. Both series of cutters are laid face to face upon the lower bridle or guide bar, G, with the cutter-bars D E against the forward perpendicular side of the iinger-bar A, (against which they slide to and fro when in action.) The guide-bar G is riveted to the ngers B, and those are affixed to the lower side of the finger-bar A in the usual manner. These iingers are placed so that from center to center is one-halt' the width of the blades or cutters in distance-that, is two, two and one-halt', or three inches, according to the width of the cutters employed, so, also, adjusted that the points ot' the blades will come directly in unison between the upper and lower limbs, b B, of the tingers alternately, as shown by Fi g. 2; hence I employ double the usual number of fingers. Fifteen are shown in Fig. l to eight top blades; Fig. 3, twenty-three to thirteen blades, according to the width ot' the )finger-bar or blades used. These fingers have the underlimb beveled up to an edge centrally, to prevent any loose grass or stems from being lodged under the cutters, and as they come in close contact with the blades or cutters with their roof-like edge or ridge, no actual friction is occasioned. The upper limb, b, whether continuous with the lower limb, B, or made in two separate pieces, as in Figs. 4, 5, isprovided with ratchetlike teeth e over the blades. The blades are also prevented from being forced apart by a bridle or guide bar, F, or its equivalent. This guide or bridle bar F is held by cross-straps c, secured to the top ot' the inger-bar A, and can be adjusted by underlaying these straps, it' the bar F rests too closely upon the blades. These straps C may also be made by uniting F with them, and as the blades are all united firmly to the cutter-bar D, a pressure or' stay would be given to them at the points of contact; hence I also contemplated to form my iingers as shown by Fig. 8, which would substitute b for F and C, but prefer a continuous guide or bridle bar F, as shown, and the iin gers like in Fig. 4.

The operation of my device is such that by means ot' a double crank,N, and adjustable or ordinary connecting-rods L M, driven by any kind of gearing in use, reduced, however, in the motion, as already stated, both series of cutters, H l, are alternately drawn in and pushed out, sliding between theupper and lower bridle or guide bars F G, or their equivalent, forming an open slot or space between them, cutting shear-fashion in their forward motion by the movement of the machine as it is drawn forward by the horses, thus cutting twice the length of the cutting-edge and twice to each revolution of the crank, leaving a surplus of surface of nearly one-third-that is, a drivingwheel three feet in diameter will go nearly nine and one-half feet in one revolution. Four-inch blades will cut eight inches in each motion, or sixteen inches in each revolution of the crank, or twelve feet in nine revolutions of the crank to one of the traction or driving wheel; hence nine motions are sufcient, leaving ample surplus for the wear of the blades down to three inches cutting-edge. The power required is consequently reduced down to one-fourth of that needed for single cutters, with twentytwo or more motions to each revolution of the driver. The stems of grain or grass, if they yield at all, are arrested by the sides of the fingers, over the center of which the cutting must be effected, and to prevent yielding by the forward motion of the cutters the notches or teeth c are cut in the upper limb of the fmgers to prevent such giving. rIhe result is that a clear, easy cutis secured without fear of choking or retarding the work.

These double series of blades are applicable to any ordinary reaping or mowing machine.

The cutting-blades might also be in a continuous piece, as those in ordinary use but I prefer separate b1ades,for the reason that they can be more readily replaced or sharpened, as well as otherwise advantages arising in their use.

While I am aware that double cutters and double cranks have been employed, however differently arranged, they form no part of the claims; neither do I claim those features independently considered, nor any special gearing or machine to operate my cutters.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The construction and arrangement of the guards or fingers Bb, with teeth e, and beveled or sharp edge C, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

AARON WISSLER.

Witnesses:

WM. B. WILEY, JACOB STAUFFER. 

